Teaching German

Globalization

Women fight for their rights

While women in the West enjoy equality under the law, this is not the case in many poor countries. Poverty, illiteracy and rigid social conventions combine to make women's lives difficult.

In the industrialized world, women are rapidly outpacing men in educational achievement; they are represented throughout the economy - even if not equally - and they enjoy legal guarantees of equality. It's a different story in the developing world. In the Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa, women have few rights and are often denied an education and the right to make decisions about their own lives.

It is an uphill struggle for women in these countries. DW takes a look at the situation of women in the developing world - and the people attempting to make a difference.